Bethany's Hockey Rants

The Columbus Kids

by Bethany on 01/16/09 at 10:43 AM ET
Comments (5)

The kids are taking over. This team has been getting draft picks galore since joining the league, and now, it’s paying off. It all starts in net.

Pascal Leclaire - Steve Mason - Pazzy earned his spot last season, but this season has been all about Steve Mason. Mason who is leading the league in GAA (1.80) and shutouts (6), is playing like a veteran. He has settled the team down, and has been dependenable. Mason is doing what Pascal Leclaire did last season - only better. I know there is a lot of talk about trading Pazzy but unless it is for a big name center, I don’t see a point. We obviously don’t have the goaltender depth that we need, and it would hurt us more than help.

Mike Brophy had an article the other day talking about how Mason could actually win the MVP award at the end of the season. But, I absolutely loved this quote from Hitchcock.

“When you have an athlete that is as exceptional as he is, it isn’t about age,” said Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock. “When you have an athlete that is as gifted as Steve, it doesn’t matter if he’s 18, 25 or 30 years old. We don’t look at him as a 20-year-old; we look at him as an exceptional athlete except for on non-game days when we have to monitor things like his eating habits because younger players don’t always know the right way to treat their bodies. On game days, though, he’s just another player.”

Maybe Mase-Face is a fan of junk food?

Jared Boll - Derek Dorsett - Sure, we may not have a heavy weight since Shelley was traded, but these kids have stepped up to the plate. Dorsett was one of the last boys sent down to Syracuse, and has played 25 games with the big club. Jared Boll has been in and out of the lineup with a suspension and some injuries, but the kid brings it every night. They are almost always willing to drop the gloves. Dorsett hasn’t fought since coming back from surgery, but I’m sure he will sometime soon.

Kris Russell - He gets to go all by himself, because, well what can you say. The kid went down to Syracuse got his confidence back, and then was called back up. He immediately changed his number to 10, and has been a new and improved ‘Little Shake’ since. Arace did an entire article on Russ today. Basically count on seeing Russell in a Jackets uniform for some time, he won’t be traded. Here’s the best way to describe Russell, and shocker, it’s Mike Commodore who says it.

“It must be nice to pick up the puck and skate through everyone who comes near you,” teammate Mike Commodore said. “I have no idea what that’s like. But it must be nice.”

That’s the new Russell, he was like that before and then lost his confidence. But since returning to Columbus, he has been great.

Derick Brassard - Yes, Brass gets his own section also. He may be finished for the season but because of the way he played in the beginning of the season we are where we are, with a lot of thanks to that kid. Brassard is our number one center, and will be when he comes back. The line of Nash - Brassard - Huselius, and even the goat line Chimera - Brassard - Voracek was one to be wreckene with. I can’t help myself from wondering if we make the playoffs - will the kid come back? I highly doubt it, because the other team would likely be like vultures going after the kid.

Nikita Filatov - Jake Voracek - Two of my favorite young guys. Nikita’s face after his third goal went in was timeless. The first rookie in Blue Jackets history to get a hatty. Good for the kid. I keep saying he has the skill to be up here, and he proved it. Now it’s all about consistency, and we will find him a spot a permanent spot on this team. Jake Voracek has really stepped it up in recent games playing on a line with Peca and Filatov, the chemistry is there, and they seem really comfortable together. And, who better to center the young kids, than Peca? He can show them how to be defensively sound on both ends of the ice. I love when they show the bench and you can see him talking to them.

Marc Methot - Deserves to be talked about also. I wasn’t a fan of his until we actually got into this season. Methot has been solid for us, and has been a surprise for me. He is really sound, and I feel like I can trust him - in most cases. Methot had been a healthy scratch in favor of Backman, which I never really understood. Methot is tied for fourth in plus/minus with a plus-10. He like any young d-man has his moments, but for the most part he was a surprise for me.

It should also be said that Stefan Legein may be playing this weekend for the Syracuse Crunch. Here’s the update from Lindsay Kramer.

- Syracuse assistant Trent Cull put forward Stefan Legein through a brutal individual workout after practice on Wednesday. It lasted about 30 minutes, after a 90-minute regular practice. The goal, of course, is to get Legein in shape for game action again, possibly as soon as this weekend. At one point, Legein was so winded that he sort of bent over with his head and arms resting on top of the net.

Cull said the emphasis is to hone Legein’s quickness, his reactions with his hands and feel. In one drill, Cull put two water bottles a few feet apart. He had Legein do a figure eight around them, all the while taking and giving passes. It sounds easy for a hockey player to do, but it looked pretty strenuous.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, , , Jakub-Voracek, , Nikita Filatov, Pascal Leclaire, Stefan-Legein, | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Derek+Dorsett, Derick+Brassard, Kris+Russell, Nikita+Filatov, Stefan+Legein, Steve+Mason,

Comments

Unfortunately, the market for goalies is shot. Remember, Vancouver gave Los Angeles a seventh round pick for LaBarbara. While you can argue that LaBarbara isn’t as good as Leclaire, there’s no way you’re going to get a tier one center for him at this time.

Regardless, the point is moot, as I doubt Columbus would trade away Leclaire.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 01/16/09 at 11:35 AM ET

you definetely have to give all these kids credit, but lets not forget the play of two holdovers from the ‘old’ era: Chimera and Malhotra.

i was floored to see that Chimera was signed to the long contract extension, sure the guy can skate, but could not hit the net to save his life. then this season began, he was paired with brass and vorachek and he completely stepped his game up. he will be a welcome return when his groin heals up.

Malhotra has filled the first line center spot with all he’s got. his play lately is the best its been since he came to the jackets. recently he was top five in the league in faceoff percentage(not sure if he’s still there). he is in a contract year and maybe wants to show H&H that he belongs and can contribute in this system.

Posted by Brandon from Cincinnati on 01/16/09 at 11:48 AM ET

Well, I am all about Steve Mason. He not only pumps up the team but the fans. I love this team and enjoy seeing the young guys continue to lead the way!

Playoffs here we come!

Posted by Jeannie from Cincinnat on 01/16/09 at 01:46 PM ET